Belfast OAP jailed for prolonged attack on his wife of 37 years

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A pensioner who launched a prolonged and unprovoked attack on his wife of 37 years in their West Belfast home was jailed today (Friday).

Roy Cairns - who described his behaviour on the night of September 8, 2017 as "monstrous" - was handed a three-year sentence which will be divided between 18 months in prison and 18 months on licence.

During today's sentencing at Belfast Crown Court, it emerged that Cairns' 62-year old wife had her head banged off a radiator, was trailed around by her hair and was repeatedly punched and kicked in their lower Falls home.

Neighbours took her to the Royal Victoria Hospital, where she was treated for a 10cm head wound which required staples. Four of her teeth were also damaged in the attack, and she is still undergoing dental treatment.

Cairns, 66, with an address at Cloona Glen in Dunmurry, hasn't seen his wife since attacking her, and has expressed remorse which the Judge considered to be sincere.

Crown prosecutor Gareth Purvis told the court the former Northern Ireland Housing Executive employee pleaded guilty to a charge of wounding his wife with intent to cause her grievous bodily harm.

The prosecutor said Cairns launched the unprovoked attack after the couple had spent the evening watching TV and consuming a moderate amount of alcohol. As she went to bring the dog in from the back at around 11pm, she was "attacked without any reason or trigger" in the kitchen.

The court was told Cairns grabbed his wife by her hair, flung her sideways then started banging her head off a radiator. At this point, she felt blood on her scalp, and her husband continued the assault by trailing her around by her hair.

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Mr Purvis added: "She tried to escape but the front door was locked. She tried to get up the stairs, but he pulled her back then repeatedly punched and kicked her in the hallway."

The prosecutor said that at one point, she tried to calm her husband down, but he told her he felt she had dictated and ruined his life, and she had no respect for him.

When she managed to break free, she ran to a neighbour's house and was taken to hospital. She later told police the attack was 'out of the blue', and said the incident has had a significant impact on her. She also expressed concerns about what would happen if she encountered her husband again, and has experienced a lack of confidence and flashbacks.

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Mr Purvis said that apart from one incident in 2009, there was no history of domestic violence. Regarding the incident in September 2017, Mr Purvis spoke of a disparity between the "slight and short" victim and her husband, who spend time in the Irish Army.

He concluded the Crown case by saying: "There are deep issues of unhappiness in his past history, which could provide an explanation for his behaviour. There has been no contact between husband and wife since this event."

A defence barrister for Cairns expanded on his client's very troubled background and childhood - including abandonment - which he said may have been a catalyst for what occurred.

The barrister also spoke of Cairns' work history, consisting of 32 years of employment with NIHE after a stint with the Army.

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And while the barrister spoke of "considerable cracks and difficulties" within the marriage, he added this was an incident of domestic violence which was absent of controlling or manipulative behaviour.

Cairns' barrister also revealed the pensioner has been working with a mental health team, that he has not breached a non-molestation order taken out by his wife, and is now living an isolated and ostracised life away from his marital home as there is "no prospect of a reconciliation".